Los Angeles in the ’90s was glamorous and gritty — a place where palm trees framed both glitzy Hollywood dreams and real-world struggles. From lowriders cruising down Sunset Boulevard to sidewalk vendors selling churros and fresh fruit with tajín, LA was alive with the neon glow of mom-and-pop shops in a pre-gentrified downtown. It was the decade of “Clueless” fits, gangsta rap’s rise, and the last days of affordable rentals before Silicon Valley money moved in.
From Venice Beach skaters to cholo culture in East LA, here are 21 vintage photos that showcase the pulsing energy of the City of Angels in the ’90s.
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